Following the resignation of all members of the previous council as well as their clerk, the residents of Tugby & Keythorpe elected five new councillors, none of whom had previous parish experience.
I was invited to be their interim clerk to help them with the procedures and to understand the Council's powers and duties. We agreed new, more relevant, standing orders and risk assessments, firmed up the financial management and set about 'catching up' on the five months during which the village had been without a Parish Council.
One year on, all five councillors stood for re-election with the support of residents. Meetings are always well-attended, sometimes near to capacity, and the Council has been able to introduce several significant improvements to the village which have been welcomed by all.
These include a community grant to improve disabled access to the village hall, installation of two grit bins and new furniture for the village green and the heritage are around the ancient village pump.
A neighbourhood planning group has been set up, working closely with the parish council, and a professional facilitator appointed. Councillors have also attended meetings with Count Council representatives and neighbouring parishes to save and protect their bus service.